Ejaculation is described as premature when it occurs
before or very soon after penetration. It is the most common sexual problem
in men and affects all age groups but is most common in young men. There are
no definitive explanations, but the following may contribute to the problem:

Anxiety about sexual performance can become
a vicious circle  youre worried about premature ejaculation, and
the more anxious you become, the less control you have, which makes you even
more anxious. Premature ejaculation is often a bigger problem at the beginning
of a relationship when sexual insecurity is highest.

Psychological pressures such as fear of impregnating
your partner, contracting a sexually transmitted disease, or cultural or religious
conflicts.

Relationship difficulties  your relationship
with your partner may be going through a difficult patch and communication
between you may be suffering.

Physical causes are extremely rare but can include
unusual nerve sensitivity in the penis, prostate or urethra infections, or
an overly tight uncircumcised foreskin.

What
is the usual time to ejaculation?

About five to nine minutes.

Can
premature ejaculation be treated?

Yes, there are effective treatments for premature
ejaculation.

Stop/start technique

This aims to help you gain control over ejaculation.
It involves either masturbating or engaging in sexual intercourse until you
reach the point of ejaculation. You then wait to regain control and start again.
If you practise this exercise regularly, you should eventually increase your
time to ejaculation. You could try practising the stop-start exercise while
masturbating and then try it with a partner later on when you feel more comfortable.

Learn to relax

Agree in advance with your partner that you will
not have full sexual intercourse on a given occasion, but instead you will caress
and familiarise yourselves with the others body. The aim is to learn relaxed
and pleasurable ways to touch each other and to reduce any shameful feelings
you may harbour about sex.

Squeeze technique

In this exercise your partner squeezes your penis
when you feel you are about to ejaculate. When this feeling passes, you can
resume. This can be repeated as often as necessary until you can learn to control
your ejaculation.

What
can I do?

Talk to your partner and your doctor  premature
ejaculation can be treated successfully and you shouldnt feel embarrassed
to ask for help.